Work-feeding attachment for sewing-machines.



W. S. MILLS.

WORK FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1913.

1,1 19,100. I Patented Dec. 1,1914] 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Willi m ,SJKE'ZZs W I G Homuua Q W. S. MILLS.

WORK FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,1913. 1,1 19, 100. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

MNQNLN m5 W. 'S. MILLS. WORK FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MQY 6,1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

wi/fiwaooeo v 57 M William s. Jm'us K V %/Qw 73 Jwhuom GHQ mink W. S. MILLS.

I WORK FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MAGHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY s.191s.

1,119,100, I Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

4 sHEETssHBT 4.

g 2.5 1.9 23/ @za Q 27 Sw pe et A 11412 we a I I m 7 1.1 1 16 W I fiwmx MAW/- a row of stitches being formed through and 1AM S. MILLS, 0F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

WQ-FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

m'iaioo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, rare.

Application filed m e, 1913. Serial No. 765,786.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bridgeport, in the county of'F airfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Work- Feeding Attachments for sewing Machines,

of which the following isa specification.v

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in feeding attachments for sewing machines and refers more particularly to that class of work feeding attachments shown and described in my prior Patent N 0. 552,691, and my pending patent applications No. 714,500 and N 0. 716,194.

The purpose of the invention illustrated and described in the said patent and patent applications is to provide means for supporting and guiding a label while the same is being stitched to a garment so as to insure around the edge portion of the label in its attachment to the garment. In view of the constructions employed in said devices the said row of stitches cannot in all instances be formed complete, that is, the ends of the rows would not be connected together, thus "leaving a short space unstitched, as between the point of beginning and the ending. While this form of work usually lacks only a stitch or two of forming a complete and connected line of stitches, yet it is objectionable since itdoes not represent perfect work.

It is therefore the ob ect of my present invention to provide a work' feeding attachment for sewing machines of the before I mentioned class which is adapted to simultaneously provided with a complete while being stitched together, and in a way which will insure "each of the labels being connected and slightly overlapping line of stitches through and around the edge portion of the label.

I have therefore devised the novel mechanism for attachment to a sewing machine, of which the following description in connection with the accompanying four sheets of drawings is a specification.

Suitable numerals of reference are used 'to .indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures and of which,

Figure 1, shows a front side view of a sewing machine head having my novel label feeding attachment secured thereto. Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view of the bed of the head of the sewing machine, having guide both labels and garments portion my improved label feeding attachment secured thereto.

Fig. 2 shows a front side view of presser foot illustrating pinion rack connection of shaft for movably supporting the presser foot. Fi 3, is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a similarly enlarged plan view, showing pawl and ratchet mechanism for feeding the label holding and clamping plates around in a rectangular direction. Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail cross sectional view taken on line 66 Fig. 7, is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4, illustrating the pinion and rack connections, through which the said clamping plates are operated by the before mentioned pawl and ratchet. Fig. 8, is an inverted plan view of a part of the bridge piece 20 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and supporting the four spring actuated pawls which successively engage the respective racks secured to the slide carrying the guide and clamping plates, and, Fig. 9. shows a plan view of a label and "part of garment illustrating the connecting and overlapped line of stitches.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings 10 indicates a portion of the stand supporting the base 11 of the sewing machine head.

1 2 represents the arm of the said head, in which the needle carrying and operating mechanlsm is mounted. The needle I3 is obviously arranged to operate vertically through the hole 14 of the base of the head in the usual way.

15 represents a ed upon the bed of thesewing machine that is provided with transverse dovetail ways to receive corresponding ways of a slide 16 that moves backward and forward upon the base.

A further pair of guideways 17 are formed in the top of this slide 16 and at a right angle to the ways upon the under side of the slide and lon itudinally with the bed 11 of the head of t e machine. A second or top slide 18 is mounted to reciprocate in the lower slide.16 and obviously operates at a of Fig. 2.

.naled in the 27 of the several racks.

, the pinion and during are provided with a suitable central opening therethrough to accommodate the vertically disposed operating shaft 19 that is jourbase of the head andin the bridge member or bracket 20. This shaft is provided with a pinion 21 that serves to successively engage the four. racks 22, 23, 24 and 25 secured to the top of the slide 18 and whereby the said slide 15 respectively operated in a forward, sidewise, backward and sidewise direction. A series of four spring actuated pawls 26 are mounted in the bridge 20 and serve to respectively engage the ribs This construction serves to hold the racks in engagement with 21 for a the travel of the respective racks across the face of the pinion, and until the adjoining side rack i s engaged and the adjacent pawl 26 engages the edge of the newly engaged rib. It will be noted that the ribs 27 of the rack do not extend along the full length of the rack, thus permitting the pawls 26 to become free from engagement therewith when, the pinion becomes engaged with the end ofthe adjoining rack.

In practice the pinion 21 is secured to the shaft 19 to. which the ratchet wheel 29 is also secured. *These parts may alsobe operated in a forward direction by the handle connections 30 secured to the upper end of the said shaft 19. The spring pawl 31 which is fixed to the bed of the machine serves to .holdthe ratchet wheel 29 and shaft in position against backward movement. The said ratchet-'wheel-is operated in a forward direction through the mediumof a spring ac tuated pawl 32 mounted upon a lever 33 that is pivotall connected to the before mentioned sha t 19 and is provided with an angularly.disposed slot-34. A pin -34 that mounted in a slide 35-serves-to engage this slotin .thelever 33 in a way to insure a swinging. movement ofthe saidleverand an engagement of the pawl and ratchet. The said slide .is drawn backward and forward by'an arm 36 secured'to arocker shaft '37 'journaled in the under side of the bed of the machine in away to. feed the ratchet wheel 29 a few teeth'with eachforward movement.

The label supporting mechanism proper,

is attached to and carried bythe slide 18 and is therefore given a rectangular movement as provided for in the gearand rack construction shown in Fig. 7, and is particu: larly described and claimed in the pending applications.

. employed in my present construction and mnected to it a.

cludes a bracket 38 that is secured to the forward end of the slide 18 and has rigidly con- -work supporting plate 39 which is moved backward and forward upon the top, of the with the several movements of the slide 18. This ,work supporting plate 39 is provided limited length of time.

This same-form of device-is any time in a way.

bed of the sewing machinewith a rectangular shaped opening 40, see Fig. 2, that is of a corresponding size and shape to the opening 41 in the clamping plate 42 located above it. The said plate 39 serves to support the arment to which the label 43 is stitched, while the clamping plate 42 arranged above the work supporting plate serves to close down on the top of the label and garment and the supporting plate. This clamping plate 42 is secured between the outer ends 0 the two parallel side members 44 whose inner end portions are connected by a cross member 45. The said ends of the side members 44 are pivotally connectedto the outwardly disposed end of the before mentioned bracket 38'. A yoke 46 is secured to the intermediate portion of the side members 44 and serves as a bearing for a spring 47 which is adjustably secured to the upwardly disposed bracket 48 mounted upon the before mentioned slide 18. The object of this spring is to force the said yoke, its frame and clamping late 42 down so that the garment will plate 39. The side frame members 44 which carry the clamping plate are pivoted to the ends of" the bracket 38 so that the plate may be raised and lowered a ainst the action of the spring 49 as shown m Fig. 1, to permit of the placement or removal of a label and garment. These supporting members are connected to be raised with thecompletion -of each label stitching operation through connections which are clearly shown in Fig. 1, and as will next be described.

A bell crank lever nected to a stud 51 secured to the arm 'of the machine head and one end of the said bell crank is connected by a chain 52 with a second bell crank lever 53 pivotally con.-

' nection 54, one end of which is attached to the long arm of the bell crank lever and the other end of which is secured to a drum 55 mounted upon a short shaft 56 journaled in a bearmg 57. This shaft provided upon one end with an arm 58 and upon the other witha cam 59. The arm'is provided with a link connection 60 with a treadle, not shown, but whereby it can be depressed at to turn the shaft and drum and operate the chain'and bell crank levers, as wellas the shaft 64 and its connecting parts. 1,

A verticall disposed rod 61 which is Slidr ably mounte in'the base 11 of the machine engages the peripheral face of the said cam 59 and hasits lower end pivotally connected clamp them against 50 is pivotally conby a 62 with an arm 63 of a rocker shaft. 13;-

naled in brackets of the anaem- 64. This rocker shaft, as will be noted, from both Figs. 3 and 4, is suitably jourbed and designed to be operated through the medium of the said short shaft and cam mounted upon the said base. Upon this shaft 64 are mounted two arms 65 and 66 the former of which is. designed to engage and reciprocate the slide 67 mounted upon the base and beneath the guide plate 15. This slide serves to engage the before mentioned pawls 31 and 32 and shove them out of engagement from the ratchet wheel 29 at certain times, and so as to permit the said wheel and the parts operated thereby to be given a slight backward movement. The second arm 66 upon the shaft 64 is simultaneously operated and serves to efiect the backward movement of the slide 18 and the label supporting mechanism carriedthereby. The arm 66 is moved to engage the slide 18 just an instant after the arm operates the slide 67 to disengage the pawls 31 and 32. This movement is sufficient to move the. label supporting parts, more particularly the work supporting plates 39 and the clamping plate 42 back about one quarter of an inch, or in other words, the space of about three stitches, thus serving to form a complete line of stitches all around the label.

Upon the plate 68 is mounted a pair of guides 59 and 70 in which an arm 71 is mounted to be slid sidewise upon the said plate. A shaft 72 is mounted in and longitudinally of this arm and is provided on its end with a small pinion 73 that connects with a rack carried by the resser foot 74.

he presser foot 74 is en ciently smaller than the rectangular opening in the clamping plate 42 to leave room around the presser foot for the needl stitching on a label. This presser foot obviously-serves to hold the label in position during such stitching operationsand is carried with the supporting plate and clamping plate. The shaft, pinion and rack connection between the arm 71 and presser foot .is for the purpose of supporting the presser foot and providing means for shifting the relative location of the said support at a certain period in each operation, so that the needle may be made to pass without striking the said arm or its shaft and in that Way to form a complete line the edge portion of the label. This particular feature of stitching the edge portion of the label is more clearly described in my said prior applications, while the particular and novel feature of this application resides in the provision for automatically shifting the said arm and its shaft connection with relation to the presser foot at a predetermined time so that the operator does not have to lose'unnecess'ary time in adjusting and fixing the attachment at the completion of each e to operate inof stitches around a lab option. lit will therefore be noted that the before mentioned bell crank lever 53 that is "pivotally connected to the supportingplate 68, has its arm 51 projected forward to engage the said arm 71 and so that with the drawing up of the other arm 51 by the ehain, lever 50 and other connections with the foot treadle the presser foot will be applied to the said arm-in a way to shove it forward against the adjustable stop 75, see. Fig. 2. The shaft 72. will then ward of the needle hole 14 leaving the path free for the said label to be carried around in the direction of the arrows, H and b, Fig. 2, While the needle is in operation. The arm 71 is obviously in engagement with the adjustable stop screw 75 during this movement ofthe supporting plates and label, as indicated by arrows a a and is thereby shoved forward with relation to the guide plates. so. that when the label is completing its rectangular movement the arm will be. forward of the needle hole and out of the way of the needle. With the completion of thev label stitching operation, however, the chain and bell crank lever connections are first-operated: in order to raise the clamping plate to free the label and then the further strain upon the said chain and bell crank lever 51 will serve to shift the arm back fore stated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A WOI'k feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprising slidable work carrying plates, a presser foot to engage the work, an arm for supporting the presser foot,

means for moving the arm forward with reagain to its normal position as bespect to the presser foot to clear the needle while in operation, and means for moving the arm in an opposite direction to set the parts for the beginning of an operation.

.2.- A work feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprisingslidable work carrying plates, a presser foot to engage the work, an arm for supporting the presser foot, means for raising the presser foot and supporting plates and simultaneously shifting the arm back to its normal position with respect to the presser foot for the beginning of an operat1on.

3. A label feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprising slidable w rk carrying plates having suitable openings therethrough, a presser foot arranged to operate in one of sald openings, an arm for supporting the presser foot and feeding the same around t e sewing machine needle while operating through the opening, means for feeding the arm forward with relation'to the presser foot while the needle is stitching el, and means for shifting said arm to an opposite positio IIO - foot around a operating through the opening, means to shift the relative location of the connection of arm and presser foot during said feeding movement, and means for raising the clamping plate and arm and returning the arm to its normal position as to connection with the presser foot.

5. A work feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprising slidable work carrying plates, a presser foot to engage the work, an arm for supporting the presser foot, means for feeding the work carrying plates and presser foot around the operating nee-' dle, means for moving the arm forward with respect to the presser foot to clear the nee dle while in operation, means for moving the arm in an opposite direction to set the parts for the beginning of an operation, mechanism for setting the work carrying plates back to their normal position.

6. A work feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprising slidable work carrying plates, a presser foot to engage the work, a movable arm for supporting the presser foot mounted upon one end of the said plates, lever and chain connections for moving the arm and for raising the presser foot and supporting plates, and a stop to engage the said arm and move itforward during the said stitchingv operation.

7. A label feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprising slidable work carrying plates having suitable openings therethrough, a presser foot arranged to operate in one of said openings, means for feeding said work carrying plates and presser foot around the operating needle. to permit the latter to form a continuous row of stitches around the edge of a label, and means for moving the said work carrying in one of said openings, sewing machine needle while plates backi ward to set the parts in their normal posimachines, comprising slidable work carrying plates having suitable openings therearranged to operate a ratchet and pawl connection for feeding said work carrying plates and presser foot around the operating needle to permit the latter to forma continuous row of stitches around the edge of a label, meansfor disengaging said pawls, and means for moving said work carrying plates backward to set the parts in their normal position. p

9. A label feeding attachment for sewing machines, comprising slidable work carrying plates having suitable openings therethrough, a presser foot through, a presser foot arranged to operate in one of said openings, an arm to support the presser foot, means for feeding said work carrying plates and presser foot around the operating needle to permit the latter to form acontinuous row of stitches around the edge of a label, and means for moving both the said work carrying plates and arm backward to set the parts in their normal position 10. A work feeding attachment for sew ing machines, comprising slidable work carrying plates having suitable openings therethrough, a presser foot arranged to operate in one of said openings, an arm tosupport the presser foot, mechanism for. feeding said work carrying plates and presser foot around the operating needle, a shaft, connections with "said shaft for moving the plates in a backward direction, and further connections with saidshaft for moving the said arm with relation to the presser foot.

Signed at Bridgeport in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut this 5th day of May A. 1)., 1913.

WILLIAM s. Mitts.

Witnessesz C, M. NEWMAN, RUTH M. Wonnnn. 

